Portable display



June 14, 1960 M. KURNITZ PORTABLE DISPLAY Filed Oct. 9, 1958 United States Patent C) PORTABLE DISPLAY Michael Kurnitz, 1750 E. 172nd St., Bronx, N.Y.

Filed Oct. 9, 1958, Ser. No. 766,291

' 2 Claims. (Cl. 211-483) This invention relates generally to the field of display fixtures, and more particularly to an improved portable display and/ or partition screen.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved lightweight planar display panel which may be interconnected in selected arrangement with other similar panels to form a partition screen or which may be used singly as an advertising display unit.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of structure of the class described in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a lightweight display panel which may be easily assembled by those possessing only ordinary skill, and with a minimum of tools.

A feature of the invention lies in the unusual strength of the inventive structure as contrasted with the mechanical strength of prior art devices, many of which are substantially heavier in weight.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will become more clearly apparent during the course of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

On the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is an exploded view in elevation showing an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in perspective showing one of the comer brackets comprising a part of the embodiment.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation showing an alternate form of corner bracket.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation showing a plurality of interconnected units comprising the embodiment to form a partition screen.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: a plurality of interconnectable units 11 of generally rectangular planar configuration. The units 11 include lowermost units 12 (see Figure 4) which differ from the remaining units 11 in the provision of supporting brackets 13 capable of engaging or resting upon a floor or other horizontal surface. The uppermost units 14 are provided with horizontally extending brackets 15 for engaging with other uppermost units in pivotal association.

Aside from the above considerations, the units 11 are substantially similar, each including a pair of lower corner brackets 18, a pair of upper corner brackets 19, and a plurality of elongated hollow tubes 20. The lower corner brackets 18 are substantially similar, each including a downwardly extending pin 22, an upwardly extending stud 23, a horizontally extending stud 24 and an angularly disposed stud 25 positioned to lie between Patented June 14, 1960 the studs 23 and 24 in co-planar relation therewith. The free end of the stud 25 is bifurcated to form a slot 27.

The upper corner brackets 19 are also substantially similar, each including an upwardly extending socket member 29 selectively engageable with the pin 22 of a bracket 18, a vertical stud 30, a horizontal stud 31, and an angularly disposed stud 32. The studs 32 are similar to the studs 25, and include a corresponding slot 33.

The tubes 20 are generally similar, and preferably of equal length. They include a lower tube 34 interconnecting the lower corner brackets 18, left and right side tubes 35 and 36, respectively, interconnecting the lower corner bracket .18 with a corresponding upper corner bracket 19, and an upper tube 37 interconnecting the two upper corner brackets 19. Screw means 41 is adapted to penetrate both the tubes and the brackets, although if desired a force fit may be employed in lieu thereof.

Engaging each of the slots 27 and 33 in the brackets 18 and 19 is a rectangular display panel 40. The display panel may be of any suitable planar material, preferably perforated hardboard, which combines the advantages of light weight, low cost, and provision for mounting articles to be displayed thereon. Screw means 42 maintain the corners of the panel 40 within the slots 27-33 and it will be observed from a consideration of Figures 1 and 4 that the panels 40 only partially cover the area enclosed by the tubes 20 thus providing an unusually attractive appearance.

Referring again to the uppermost units 14, the upper brackets 19a differ from the brackets 19 only in the elimination of the upwardly extending socket member 29, and the provision of a laterally disposed member 48 which is pivotally associated with corresponding laterally extending members on other uppermost units 14, as best seen on Figures 2 and 4.

In the alternate form of brackets shown on Figure 3, a panel supporting stud 51 is provided which extends parallel to the vertically disposed stud 52, rather than at an angle to' the same as is the case in the principal form. This alteration is for appearance purposes only, as the function is identical with that of the principal form.

It may thus be seen that I have invented novel and highly useful improvements in portable displays, in which a plurality of substantially identical units may be interconnected as desired for purposes of advertising display, or to form a partition screen. The assembly of the device is simple, permitting the structure to be marketed in kit form for ready assembly by the user, if desired, with a consequent saving in cost. By the use of lightweight metals, a lightweight structure is ob tained without sacrificing mechanical strength.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

I claim:

1. A portable display unit comprising: a plurality of corner brackets, each having first and second studs extending at a mutual right angle, and a third stud having a slotted free end positioned to lie between said first and second studs in co-planar relation therewith; a plurality of hollow tubes interconnecting said brackets to form a substantially rectangular frame, and a planar panel engaged within the slotted ends of each of said third studs.

2. A portable display unit comprising: a plurality of corner brackets, each having first and second studs extending at a mutual right angle, and a third stud have memos- W 54 e l ing a slotted free end positioned to lie between said first 7 References Cited in the file of this patent aml second studs in coolanar relation therewith; a plu- UNITED STATES PATENTS rallty of hollow tubes mtereonnectmg sa1d braekets to V qrmv a bstantially rectangular frame; pin and socket ga 2 1 f t al I J 1 v Or merwnnecflng a p l y f s d mm m 5 2,045,378 Austin June 23, 1936 co-planar rectilinear relation, and laterally extending bracket means for interconnecting a plurality of frame 2,790,258 Freshour Apr. 30, 1957 in pivotally interconnected relation. 7 1 

